“The Geography of Slavery project presents full transcriptions and images of all runaway and captured ads for slaves and servants placed in Virginia newspapers from 1736 to 1790, and is in the process of compiling advertisements well into the nineteenth century. In addition, the project offers a number of other documents related to slaves, servants, and slaveholders, including court records, other newspaper notices, slaveholder correspondence, and assorted literature about slavery and indentured servitude.”
Example: Virginia Gazette or American Advertiser (Hayes),
Richmond, July 17, 1784.
June 22, 1784. TAKEN UP, by John T. Sayers, living in Montgomery County, and committed to gaol, a Negro man who calls himself TOM, and says he belongs to Captain V. Harrison, in Loudoun County, in this State; he is an outlandish fellow, talks broken English, is about 25 years of age, and is about five feet four inches high. Had on when he was taken up, an old blue coat, jacket and leather leggins, and has large scars on his face, and on his neck. Whoever owns the said Negro is requested to come, pay charges, and take him away. WALTER CROCKETT, Sheriff of Montgomery County.
Gathering African American History 